James M. Ruppert received his J.D. in 2013 from Southern Illinois University School of law. During law school he was active in trial advocacy and committed to learning the legal profession. Following his first year he clerked for Judges Barbara Crowder and Clarence Harrison in the Illinois Third Judicial Circuit Court in Edwardsville. Shortly thereafter, he joined Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. as a law clerk and later an associate attorney. In January of 2017, James became a partner with the firm.

Hometown Biography: James grew up in the southern Illinois city of Alton, Illinois where he played sports and graduated from Alton High School. James is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Dean Ruppert. James learned at a young age the meaning of hard work while working for the family construction business. He now currently resides in O’Fallon, Illinois.